Not a Happy Camper

I have definitely come down with a bit of a chest/flu infection...one of those coughing things. I have decided to not do anything this morning...no Ride Inside or Ocean Swim. I was particularly looking forward to the Ocean swim....bummer.

Thursday - Training

AM Session- Swim: open water swim with me at Redcliffe 9.30am 60 mins (now happening on Friday)
PM Session- Run: 30 min @ under 145hr

This morning I was meeting Sarah and Jacqui to work out a run route for the Tour. I decided that I would ride in to meet them as I believe that I need to spend a little more time in the saddle to get my cycling up to standard again.
It was quite cool this morning and again I was rugged up but was looking forward to the morning on the bike.
I spent about 2hrs on the bike this morning and travelled about 40km...it was a good morning...felt good and my cycling 'legs' were coming back.

The run in the afternoon was a 'no watch' run. I have a 30min course around my place and did this with no watch. The no watch scenario reduces one expectations for the run and helps in bring the enjoyment of running back into the running. It's a strategy I am trying to use to increase the level of motivation and drive to get back into the training.

Felt good after the run - still struggling with the left calf a bit. With ensuring that I stretch after each run I should be able to overcome this issue.

In saying that I was feeling good after the run was probably a little premature....I now am feeling a little fluey and I am not that impressed about it at all.

Will give the session a miss tomorrow morning to see if I can 'kick it in the butt' before it gets any worse.

Wednesday.....

AM Session: Rest

PM Session: Run: 60 mins @ under 150 hr followed by 6 x 80m strides and 15 min stretch

The run was a good work out plenty of hills and I am happy to challenge myself with this as I believe it is in going in improving my overall leg strength.

However, in saying that my left calf came up quite sore....the stretching helped a bit but I think it is just getting my legs back into the routine of regular running of hills.

What can I say......

AM: Ride: group 1. Focus on cadence staying above 95. Don't worry about hr. Drive there and back

PM: Run; 30-40 mins @ under 145 hr and 15 min stretch

This morning was my real first challenge since I have been back into the training....Mt Nebo....what a way to start. It was again a brisk morning and I think I added another 5kg just in clothe to the weight of my bike. I was full of enthusiasm for a great ride...really looking forward to it. However, the thing I didn't factor in to all of this was the 23km I ran yesterday....hmmmm.

Stay tuned...more to come!

Afternoon Run Session

PM Session: 30-40min run under 145bpm

This was a good session. Felt good throughout the run. About 25min started to get a little pain in the left calf, stopped and stretched for a little while. Felt a bit better and allowed me to continue.

When I returned to home I got into a 15min stretch.

In my preparation for Ironman I developed a 15min stretching routine. I found once I developed a routine of a series of stretches I am more likely to complete the stretch session and of course the motivational music is a MUST!

Saturday Morning Trail Run

Up early and off to Slaughter Falls for a 2 hr trail run around Brisbane Forest Park - Mt Cootha.

The conditions were fine and brisk!

A good run....finding that I need to get some strength back into the legs for these long hills. The legs are struggling to carry me up them at any real pace...its more of a shuffle or walk.

Wednesday Sessions

This morning was a rest session with a 75min run in the afternoon with a 15min stretch. The run went off without a hitch. The course that I selected was very hilly. It was a night run with a little rain around. You couldn't ask for any better running condition...I love that!

Tuesday's Reflections

Yes....today is Tuesday and the motivation is improving....slightly.
I was just looking back at my blogs for this time last year...interesting really. I was struggling with motivation a bit...not as much but it was still a struggle.
In fact at the moment there are a number of things really frustrating me....I just want to get back into it...but mentally I still don't think I'm there...Is this just and excuse? I'm starting to think it is....I think I just need to HARDEN UP.....SUCK IT IN and just get into the training and stop finding pitiful excuses not to do a session.
The other frustrating thing is the gain in weight. I have returned to what I was at the start of the Ironman campaign.....NOT HAPPY JAN!!!!

Now that I have got all that off my chest...maybe things will start to look up!

The motivation is increasing!

It is the third week of being back on program and I might as well say it is the second...Last week was a NON event...not one session was completed that was on my program....well maybe I did do the two that were down for the weekend...Saturday's trail run and Sunday's ride (this was a session that I coached)....anyway...upward and onward!!!

To those who follow the blog....its now back as a regular feature!

Wednesday Night Run

Out for the first run on my own for quite a while. With winter upon us, the run in the evenings is in the dark. A good time to reflect and evaluate my goals. The route arounfd my place is very hilly and there is always plenty of hills to add a challenge to the run...especially the first run back.

Tuesday Night - Swim Session

The swimming has been one thing I have tried to contue with over the past 8 weeks. I had a belief that I just didn't want to go backwards with my swimming having come so far.

Warm up - 10 x 100m with 10sec rest
Drill set - 5 x 100m Kick (1st 25m Breastroke kick, 2nd 25m kickboard, 3rd 25m on back with board and final 25m Kick)
Main set - 10 x 100m (25m Advanced dog paddle, next 50m swim, last 25m ADP) the 300m pool buoy.
Warm down - 200m Choice

Felt good...need to mentally toughen up more...kick wasn't too bad...still feel as though I have no power from my kick.

Where am I at NOW!!

It has been now 8 weeks since completing Ironman and it is time to return to the training regime. Before I do lets look at where I am at now...physically and mentally....

• The weight has increased somewhat since the Ironman...in fact I am back at the 86kg mark...I not a real happy camper about this...but I suppose it has to be done...to come back stronger....hmmmm....maybe not......
• Mentally I am struggling...just to get back into it....I hoping that getting back on program and setting some real solid goals will help in lifting this.

I feel the time is now right to return to the 'park'.

Back into it again......

It is that time again...back on program for the 2009 goals:

• Focus on improving core strength and flexibility.
• Improve kicking technique
• Maintain the weight around the 80.0kg
• Under 5hrs for Half Ironman
• Compete in the 2009 Australian Ironman
• Complete the 2009 Australian Ironman between 10h15m and 10h45m
• Qualify for the Australian team for the World Long Course Championships (Oct 2009 – Perth)
• Qualify for the Australian Team for the World 70.3 2010 Championship
• Qualify for Hawaii Ironman